Johnson, Fresno look to ride momentum to title

Fresno State’s Tyler Johnson (1) dunks in front of Siena’s Ryan Oliver (3) during the first half of Game 2 in the College Basketball Invitational championship series on Wednesday in Loudonville (AP Photo)

But as the Fresno State senior guard wrapped up the final basketball practice of his collegiate career on Friday afternoon, Johnson had to admit that his first time in the Empire State has been pretty good.

After all, Johnson scored 19 points, 14 of which came in the first half, as the Bulldogs (21-17) evened up the College Basketball Invitational on Wednesday afternoon with a 89-75 victory over Siena (19-18), forcing a final, game-three, matchup this morning.

Tipoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

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“It means a lot to our program,” Johnson said of competing in this championship series. “Siena too. I mean, I’m sure nobody thought Siena or Fresno State was still going to be playing at this time in the season. So, it’s a testament to how far both programs have come. We won 13 games last year, I don’t think many people thought we were going to be in the CBI championship, playing this late in the season.”

For Johnson, this tournament presents an opportunity that only two teams in the entire NCAA have, to continue competing in a postseason tournament after losing a game.

Fresno State dropped the opening game of the series on Monday night, falling 61-57 at home after a furious second-half rally from the Saints. But while most teams would be forced to pack up the equipment after a game like that, the Bulldogs got a second chance at their on-court lives and they rode that opportunity for all it was worth on Wednesday, dominating from the opening minutes and shooting lights out for all 40 minutes.

While it will be difficult for Fresno State to match its offensive strength from game two this morning, Johnson, who leads the team with 15.8 points per game, fully expects the Bulldogs to be able to put the ball in the hoop today.

“I think it can,” Johnson said of the offense matching Wednesday’s numbers. “We’ve had games where we’ve played back-to-back games and we’ve shot the ball really well. We can’t depend on only making shots to win the game though. “

While Johnson is certainly focused on the team aspect of today’s game and the opportunity in front of the Bulldogs, the 6-4 senior, who has played all four seasons with at Fresno State, has also taken a bit of a personal reflection heading into the final game of his career.

Johnson has undoubtedly improved every season he’s put on a Fresno State uniform and he’s the unquestionable leader of this Bulldogs team, the emotional edge and the extra spark on and off the court.

For him, today’s game is a final chance, a final opportunity to showcase exactly what he’s made of as a player.

Today is one last chance at a victory and Johnson knows it’s a chance that few athletes ever get.

“Not too many people get to do that at any level,” he said. “Not too many people get to end their career on a win, so it would be a unique thing and I think it would be awesome.”